Air separator for fluid circulating systems



Feb. 11, 1941. R. c. JEPERTINGER AIR SEPARATOR FOR FLUID CIRCULATINGSYSTEMS Filed Jan. 29. 19:8

- Patented Feb. 11, 1941 PATENT I OFFICE,

2.231.501 7 AIR snraaa'roa FOR rwm cmcumrmc' SYSTEMS Richard C.Jepertinger, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor Modine Manufacturing Company, Ra

cine,

Win, a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 29, 1938, Serial No.187,589

This invention relates to air separators, and particularly to devicesfor separating air from fluid in a circulating system.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel constructionand arrangement for automatically removing air from fluid of a circulating system while the system is in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction andarrangement whereby the removal of the air from the fluid is facilitatedby the operation of the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means in a fluidcirculating system having a heat exchange device operatively relatedthereto. whereby air is removed from the fluid of the system beforeentering the heat exchange device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of'novelconstruction for producing a swirling movement of the fluid in a portionof a fluid circulating system and removing an ac-- cumulation of airfrom said device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air separator oinovel construction, which may be readily installed in a fluidcirculating system for removing air from the fluid circulatingtherethrough;

A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of thecharacter described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and par-'ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The present invention is particularly applicable for use in conjunctionwith thefluid circulating. systems employed for cooling motor vehicleengines, wherein car heating units or heat exchange devices areemployed, as it has been found that in modern automobiles, the enginesare located,

lower in the chassis and the pumps of the cooling systems are ofincreased capacity. These features in modern automobile constructioncause air to accumulate in the heads of engines, which, with the fluid.is then circulated by sheer force of the pump through the hot waterheater,'causing a very objectionable gurgling sound in and adjacent theheater. V

To overcome this objectionable condition, a novel air separator wasdevisedfor separating the air from the fluid before the fluid waspermitted to enter the heater, and in the present instance, this novelair separator will be described in its relation to the cooling system ofan automobile engine, and in the arrangement shown in the actcompanyingdrawing, in which,

Fig. i is a sectional ei'evational view of a. portion of a motor vehicleshowing the vehicle englue and associated parts mounted therein, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view partly in section of the structure illustrated inFig. 2.

As. illustrated in Fig- 1 of the drawing. .the present invention isshown in relation to the cooling system of an automobile engineindicated, as a whole, by the numeral 5, and having a water jacket 6formed'therein extending into the head of the engine, as indicated at 1,the water Jacket 8-! being connected to the upper portion of a radiator8 by means of a connection comprising a thermostat housing 9 and hoseconnection ii operatively related thereto, and with the lower endportion of the radiator by means of a pump 12 and hose connection l3.

The structure shown in Fig. 1 also illustrates a heat exchange device orhot water heater It. positioned within the automobile body and connectedto the pump H by means of a hose or other conduit i5, the said heater isbeing arranged to communicate with the portion l of the water jacketthrough a hose l6 and through my improved air separator comprising,preferably, a closed receptacle indicated, as a whole, by the numerali1, and having a middle portion is and substantially cup-shaped upperand lower end portions i8 and 2! "connected thereto. as illustrated in.Fig. 2, the end portion 2! being adapted to be supported, preferably, onthe head of the engine by means of a bracket 22 to provide a stablemounting for the separator.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the separator or receptacle I'I' isprovided with an inlet pipe 23 communicating at one of its ends with theportion I of the water jacket formed in the head oi the engine block,and at its opposite end with the receptacle I'I adjacent the upperportion thereof and, preferably, at one side thereof ad- Jacent a wallportion of the receptacle, as illustrated in Fig. 3' or, in other words,on a line ofiset from the center of the receptacle ortangential to anarc struck from the center thereof, in a manner to produce a swirlingmovement of the fluid within the receptacle, the cylindrical inner.

wall portion 24!, (Fig. 3) of the receptacle adjacent the discharge endof the inlet pipe 23 providing means for changing the direction of flowof the fluid as it enters the receptacle.

The receptacle H is also provided with an outlet pipe 25 communicatingat one of its ends with the heater l4 through the hose [6, and at itsopposite end with the receptacle adjacent a portion thereof below thelevel of the inlet 23.-

the center thereof, and in a line substantiallycommon to the.directionof movement of the fluid in the receptacle adjacent thereceiving end of the outlet pipe.

operatively related to the receptacle IT and system, an air separatorcomprising a closed re-v ceptacle forming a portion of the connection-70 preferably, adjacent the upper portion of the receptacle, is an airconduit 26, the opposite end of the conduit being adapted tocommunicate,

preferably, withthe connection between the portion I of the water jacketand radiator 8, as indicated at 21, preferably, adjacent the dischargeside of the thermostat housing or casing 9 to remove air from the upperportion of the re ceptacle l'l.

It will be observed from the foregoing de-" scription that bycirculating the cooling fluid through the receptacle 11, particularly ina manner to produce a swirling movement of the fluid, the air containedwithin the fluid may be separated during such movement, and rising tothe upper portion of the receptacle H, the air may be removed therefromthrough the conduit 25 and returned to the cooling system, preferably onthe discharge side of the thermostat housing and thence through the hoseconnection ll into the radiator 8 where it may escape to the atmospherethrough the usual overflow pipe.

It will be observed also that the present invention provides a novelconstruction and arrangement for separating air from the fluid of thecirculating system, as illustrated in the drawing, before the fluidenters the heater ll, thereby eliminating the objectionable gurglingsound within the heater due to the reasons already assigned. I

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction and arrangement shown and described as the same may bevariouslymodified. Moreover all the features of the invention need notbe used conjointly as the same a may be used to advantage in variouslydifferent one of its ends to and communicating with said receptacle andat its opposite end to the connection between said radiator and waterjacket.

2. In the fluid circulating system of a motor vehicle engine having awatefjacket, a radiator and car heater operatively connected thereto,and a pump for circulating fluid through said between said water jacketand heater and having inlet and outlet ports operatively connected, re-

spectively, to 'said water jacket and heater, and

' an air conduit connected adjacent one' of its;

ends to and communicating with the upper portion ofsaidreceptacIe and atits opposite end to the connection between said radiator and waterjacket,

3. In the fluid circulating system'of a motor vehicle engine'having awater jacket and a thermostat casing associated therewith, a radiatorand car heater operatively connectedto said water jacket, and a pump forcirculating fluid through said system, a centrifugal air separatorcomprising a closed receptacle forming a part of the connection betweensaid water jacket and heater, an inlet pipe communicating with thepipeextending outwardly from the receptacle on a line offset from the centerthereof and ad- Jacent the wall portion of the receptacle, and an airconduit connected adjacent one of its ends to and communicating with theupper portion of said receptacle and at its opposite end to theconnection between said radiator and water jacket at the discharge sideof said thermostat casing.

4. In the fluid circulating system of a motor vehicle engine having awater jacket and a thermostat casing associated therewith, a radiatorand car heater operatively connected to said water Jacket,. and a pumpfor circulating fluid through said system, a centrifugal air separatorcomprising a closed cylindrical receptacle forniing a part of theconnection between said water jacket and heater, an inlet pipecommunicating with the water jacket and said receptacle and extendinginto the receptacle on a line ofiset from the center and adjacentthewall portion thereof, an outlet pipe communicating with said heater andwith the receptacle at a level below the level of said inlet, saidoutlet pipe extending outwardly from the receptacle on a line offsetfrom the center thereof and adjacent the wall portion of the receptacle,and an air conduit connectedadjacent one of its ends to andcommunicating with the upper portion of said receptacle and at itsopposite end to the connection between said radiator and water jacket atthe discharge side of said thermostat casing.

5. In a fluid cooling and circulating system of an internal combustionengine'having a water jacket, a radiator and heater operativelyconnected to said water jacket, and a pump for circulating the fluidthrough said system, the combination of a centrifugal air separatorcomprising a closed receptacle forming a part of the connection betweensaid water jacket and heater, an inlet pipe communicating with the waterjacket and with said receptacle adjacent the upper portion thereof andextending on a line 'ofiset from the center of said receptacle, anoutlet port communicating with said heater and with the receptacle at alevel below the level of said inlet and on a line oflset from the centerof the receptacle, and an air conduit connected adjacent one of its endsto and communicating with the upper portion of said receptacle and atits opposite end to the connection between said radiator and waterjacket.

6. In an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine and awater circulating sysoutlet pipe tangentially joined to the outer pcairby-pass tubeportion of said ends to and communicating with saidreceptacle and at its-opposite end with a portion of said system betweensaid jacket and the intake side of said pump. u

8. In the fluid circulating system of a motor vehicle engine having awater'jacket, radiator,

car heater and pump forming parts of said system, an air separatorcomprising a receptacle havinginlet andvoutlet ports operativelyconnected, respectively, to said water jacket and heater, and an airconduit communicating with said receptacle and with said system betweensaid jacket and the intake side of said pump. RICHARD C. JEPERTINGER.

